Frenchwoman Ferrand-Prévôt wins Paris-Roubaix women's race for the first time
The 33-year-old from France added the prestigious and grueling Roubaix classic to her Olympic mountain bike gold medal at the Paris Games last year and the 2014 world road race title.
'I'm super happy but I don't realise it yet,' she said. 'It could be my best win ever.'
A smiling Ferrand-Prévôt raised both arms in the air as she crossed the finish line at the Roubaix velodrome.
She surprised herself with the victory, given the circumstances.
'I was sick the last couple of days, so I was not sure this morning if I was going to participate. It's good that finally I took the start,' Ferrand-Prévôt said. 'Winning here is just amazing. My boyfriend (Dylan van Baarle) won three years ago, so now I won. We will have two (trophies) at home.'
The 148.5-kilometer (92-mile) race featured 29.2 km (18 miles) of cobbles and Ferrand-Prévôt was one of several riders to fall entering one of those stretches, with 54 kilometers to go.
But she was unharmed and quickly rejoined the peloton.
Although she was tactically supposed to be riding for Visma-Lease a Bike with teammate Marianne Vos, Ferrand-Prévôt sensed an opportunity and launched her attack with about 18 kilometers left.
'I had a gap and I tried to go until the end,' Ferrand-Prévôt said.
None of her rivals could catch her and she entered the velodrome on her own with the crowd cheering.
Ferrand-Prévôt finished 58 seconds clear of Italian Letizia Borghesi and 1:01 ahead of Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes in third. Vos was fourth and Alison Jackson of Canada fifth.
Ferrand-Prévôt became the first rider from France to win the women's race, which was first held in 2021.
'The first, but maybe the last one,' she said, smiling. 'I just tried to survive in the cobblestone section.'
Defending champion Lotte Kopecky of Belgium __ the road race world champion __ was 2:04 behind in 12th spot.
The men's race is on Sunday and sees three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar competing in the ' Hell of the North ' race for the first time. ___
AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
a minute ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Serbian soccer club Partizan punished by UEFA for fans' Kosovo banner and offensive chants
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA fined Partizan Belgrade more than $100,000 on Wednesday and ordered part of the Serbian club's stadium closed at one European game for fans' racist and political statements. Fans displayed a 'Kosovo is Serbia' banner and chanted discriminatory and offensive slogans at two home games in Conference League qualifying rounds. The order to close a 10,000-seat section of Partizan's stadium will apply at the team's next home game in a European competition. Partizan faces possible elimination on Thursday in Edinburgh, trailing 2-0 from the first leg against Hibernian in the Conference League third qualifying round. The charges included 'racist and/or discriminatory behavior,' displaying an illicit banner and throwing objects, UEFA said. Serbia has never recognized the declaration of independence in 2008 by Kosovo, the neighboring former province which has been a member of UEFA and world soccer body FIFA since 2016.
Business Upturn
6 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Liverpool in advanced talks to sign Parma's Giovanni Leoni immediately
By Ravi Kumar Jha Published on August 13, 2025, 19:11 IST Liverpool are pushing to secure the signing of highly-rated Italian defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma, with negotiations now at an advanced stage. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League club are working to complete the move immediately rather than waiting until the summer of 2026. The 18-year-old centre-back has emerged as one of Italy's brightest defensive prospects, attracting attention from several top European clubs. However, Liverpool have moved swiftly to bring him in as part of Arne Slot's squad for the remainder of the season, with no plans to loan him back to Italy. Sources indicate that Leoni has already given the green light to the move, expressing enthusiasm for joining Liverpool's long-term project. Club-to-club talks between Liverpool and Parma are ongoing, and optimism is growing that a deal could be finalized soon. Leoni's arrival would represent a significant investment in youth for Liverpool, who continue to blend emerging talent with established stars. With injuries affecting their defensive options this season, the acquisition of a versatile, composed young defender could provide both immediate depth and a long-term solution at the back. Arne Slot is understood to be keen on integrating Leoni straight into first-team training upon his arrival, offering the teenager a unique opportunity to develop alongside experienced players in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Ravi kumar jha is an undergraduate student in Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia and Mass Communication. A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication and he also has a genuine interest in sports. Ravi is currently working as a journalist at
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Photos of taxi drivers in Zimbabwe showing off team colors for the Premier League soccer season
Minibus taxi drivers in the African nation of Zimbabwe gear up for the start of the Premier League soccer season by adorning their vehicles with the colors of their teams. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
